Wakefield v Halifax preview
Wakefield full-back Lee Smith has hailed the success of the Super 8s, even though it could result in relegation for his team and cost him his job.
The qualifiers reach a critical stage on Saturday with four of the eight clubs facing make-or-break fixtures in the penultimate round.
Only Hull KR and Widnes have so far secured their Super League status for 2016 and most interest is now centred on the fixture dubbed the 'Million Pound Game' between the fourth and fifth-placed teams.
Salford, who go to Widnes on Sunday, and Wakefield, who host Halifax on Saturday evening, still have work to do to avoid the drop, while Leigh, who finished six points clear in the Championship, will be out of the running for promotion if they fail to beat Bradford on Saturday afternoon.
"I think the competition is brilliant," said Smith, who returned to rugby league and a second stint with the Wildcats in July after a brief spell in rugby union with Newcastle.
"It's not so good for people's livelihoods, finances and mortgages and stuff like that but for supporters I think it's great, especially when so many teams can make it. All the games are like cup finals which is brilliant for the back end of the season."
Wakefield, who finished 11 points adrift at the foot of the table at the end of the 23-game regular season, raised hopes of survival with back-to-back wins over Leigh and Bradford but recent defeats by Hull KR and Widnes have left them precariously placed going into the last two rounds.
"It's a must-win game against Halifax," said Smith. "We're in a position where it's out of our control to finish third, all we can do is win and concentrate on ourselves."
Smith, who played on the wing for the last two games, will be restored to the full-back role he prefers following the axing of Kevin Locke who, along with Tim Smith and Reece Lyne, has been stood down pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
The former Leeds favourite's short-term deal runs out at the end of the season but he hopes his future will become a little clearer by Saturday night.
"It's difficult for the club to make any decisions at the moment, with not knowing if they will be in Super League or not," he said.
"If we get beat on Saturday, there will be no a contract at all. It's all our eggs in one basket for Saturday."
Wakefield Wildcats: Chris Annakin, Joe Arundel, Matty Ashurst, Jordan Crowther, Pita Godinet, Tom Johnstone, Max Jowitt, Ali Lauitiiti, Jacob Miller, Anthony Mullally, Nick Scruton, Mickael Simon, Michael Sio, Lee Smith, Jordan Tansey, Bill Tupou, Anthony Walker, Danny Washbrook, Andy Yates.
Halifax: Luke Ambler, Andy Bracek, Mitchell Cahalane, Ross Divorty, Jake Ecclestone, Jacob Fairbank, Ben Heaton, Ben Johnston, Ben Kaye, Ryan Maneely, Dane Manning, Richard Moore, Scott Murrell, Adam Robinson, Connor Robinson, James Saltonstall, Tommy Saxton, Adan Tangata, Steve Tyrer.
